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Player to Player: Quick Grip Adjustments

Real Tennis Players - Like You! - Asking For and Offering Advice on the Sport They Love

Player to Player is USTA.com’s regular feature in which everyday tennis players are given a forum to ask advice on the sport they love – and their fellow players will dish out advice. We’ll post a number of the best responses we receive to our question.

The latest question is from Jim, who asks: What serve best takes stress off of the elbow? I'm currently nursing a tennis/golfer's elbow chronic injury and looking for relief. Any advice would be appreciated.

Do you have any advice for Jim or a question of your own? Please share your thoughts by e-mailing Player@usta.com, and include your name and hometown for a chance to receive advice from your fellow players!

Last question from Lauren: In regards to the service return, I struggle with quick grip adjustments. I start with a semi-western forehand grip, can easily adjust to a backhand slice return, but struggle adjusting to a flat or topspin backhand grip. (I use a one-handed backhand.) Any match tips or practice tips to help me overcome this?

PLAYER RESPONSES:

From Lawrence D.: 1. If you are facing a hard server, perhaps you can take a few steps back behind the baseline to receive serve. This will allow you some time to fix your grip preparation; 2. Try a Continental grip; 3. Practice more on service returns; 4. Do a baseline drill (you are at the baseline and a partner is at the net volleying).

From Tom. G.: Use a Continental grip when you are in the ready position. You can get to any grip quickly if you start at the most neutral (Continental) grip.

From William S.: It depends on the serve. Righty slice, go Western. Flat and fast, go Continental. Lefty, go Eastern. Against a really good server, no choice, go Continental.

From George A: I have the same issue. I was giving up too many service return points. I went to a Continental grip and chipped the forehand and backhand back in play, and I usually chip and volley. It's been very successful and much more consistent. When I'm in a rally I have no issues changing from semi-Western forehand to Eastern for my backhand.

From John A.: What I do is decide on the grip after my opponent hits the ball. I hold my racquet solely with my left hand and then adjust to whichever grip I want [with my right hand].